King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Woe unto them that join house to house, [that] lay field to field, till [there be] no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
Complete Jewish Bible:
Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field, until there's no room for anyone else, and you live in splendor alone on your land.
Berean Standard Bible:
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.
American Standard Version:
Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no room, and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Woe{H1945} unto them that join{H5060} house{H1004} to house{H1004}, that lay{H7126} field{H7704} to field{H7704}, till there be no{H657} place{H4725}, that they may be placed{H3427} alone in the midst{H7130} of the earth{H776}!
Cross-References (KJV):
Micah 2:2
- And they covet fields, and take [them] by violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
Habakkuk 2:9
- Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
Habakkuk 2:12
- Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Jeremiah 22:13
- Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
Jeremiah 22:17
- But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do [it].
1 Kings 21:16
- And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
1 Kings 21:20
- And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found [thee]: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
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Commentary for Isaiah 5:8
Isaiah 5:8 is part of a larger poetic passage known as the "Song of the Vineyard," which spans from Isaiah 5:1-7. This song is an allegory in which God's relationship with Israel is likened to a vineyard owner's care for his vineyard. The vineyard, despite being lovingly tended, yields only bad fruit, symbolizing Israel's failure to live up to God's expectations despite His care and provision.
In the specific context of Isaiah 5:8, the verse addresses the social injustice of land accumulation. The phrase "Woe unto them that join house to house, [that] lay field to field" condemns the practice of wealthy landowners who aggressively expand their property by unjustly acquiring the land of others. The text suggests that these individuals are driven by greed and the desire for isolation, wanting to be "placed alone in the midst of the earth." This accumulation of land leaves no space for others and disrupts the socio-economic balance intended by God's law, which sought to prevent the concentration of land ownership and ensure that every family had an inheritance (Leviticus 25:8-17).
Historically, this verse reflects the economic and social conditions of ancient Israel during the 8th century BCE, a time when the disparity between the rich and the poor was increasing. The prophet Isaiah speaks out against the injustice and oppression of the vulnerable, warning of divine judgment against those who exploit the less fortunate for personal gain. The theme is one of social responsibility and the call for righteousness and justice, which are recurring concerns in the prophetic literature of the Bible. Isaiah's message is a reminder that God's people are to be stewards of the land and caretakers of one another, especially the marginalized.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1945
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הוֹי
Transliteration: hôwy
Pronunciation: hoh'ee
Description: a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי); oh!; ah, alas, ho, O, woe. - Strong's Number: H5060
There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַע
Transliteration: nâgaʻ
Pronunciation: naw-gah'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H7126
There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרַב
Transliteration: qârab
Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take. - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. - Strong's Number: H657
There are 132 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶפֶס
Transliteration: ʼepheç
Pronunciation: eh'-fes
Description: from אָפֵס; (sometimes like פָּעַל); cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot; ankle, but (only), end, howbeit, less than nothing, nevertheless (where), no, none (beside), not (any, -withstanding), thing of nought, save(-ing), there, uttermost part, want, without (cause). - Strong's Number: H4725
There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָקוֹם
Transliteration: mâqôwm
Pronunciation: maw-kome'
Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H7130
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶרֶב
Transliteration: qereb
Pronunciation: keh'-reb
Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.